Charges for Man Who Slapped Fla. Medic

FORT LAUDERDALE, July 19 -- A man who police say struck a Fort Lauderdale firefighter-paramedic in the face during a medical call early Thursday barricaded himself in his apartment for 70 minutes, prompting police to cordon off a neighborhood.

Darrell Luis Benbow, 37, of the 1400 block of NW 21st St. was present during a medical emergency that involved his girlfriend, police said.

He argued with a Fort Lauderdale firefighter-paramedic during the call that began at 6:30 a.m. and struck the responder in the face with an open hand, a complaint affidavit states.

After police arrived, Benbow stayed in his apartment until police talked him out around 7:40 a.m., according to the report.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Division Chief Robert Bacic said the firefighter-paramedic "is fine. He wasn't injured."

Benbow was charged with battery on a firefighter and violation of probation, and was in the Broward County main jail in Fort Lauderdale Thursday night.

LTrischitta@Tribune.com, 954-356-4233 or Twitter @LindaTrischitta

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